Eclectic Vibes - July 2016

CD/DVD Micro Reviews by Andrew Frey

Fun, friends and fireworks followed by festivals, friends and fun again. Enjoy your July!MIXED IMPRESSIONS
Poised to be one of the next funky jam rock leaders, the Boston spawned Dopapod payed a visit to the Majestic Theater in Madison on 6/23. This 4 piece brought to stage an initial captivation of funky dancey rhythms but mid set devolved into a meandering of atmospheric noodling and psychedelic cues; one song jammed right into the next. The colorful light show teased and taunted but the timid crowd dwindled and ebbed far quicker than expected. dopapod.com
Friday night, 6/24 found us downtown Madison for Live on King Street with the Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra. While Grateful Dead isn’t my forte, it was a quality event with good vibes and they were much appreciated by the multigenerational near capacity audience found at this free summer event. www.darkstarorchestra.net
But, the night was still young, so we breezed over to the UW Memorial Union. I guess the indie Americana band was aptly named Post Social, but for the 1000+ people in attendance, maybe 20 people were motivated enough to even comprehend there was live music and not just drink and enjoy the beauty and trappings of the place itself. We were among the musically unaffected. Great evening on the lake though! today.wisc.edu

FETED KID KOALA
Although there will be great food and activities plus performances from musical groups dotting the globe at Madison’s premier summer festival, La Fete De Marquette, from July 14-17 including Tab Benoit, Ginkgoa, Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, and Pape Diouf, I am most excited to see that world-renowned scratch DJ, music producer, and award winning graphic novelist Kid Koala will be a part of the event! On 7/15 he will offer a special early evening Music to Draw to interactive event, prior to the DJ set at the Central Park Electronique Tent, which all happens before his club set at High Noon Saloon. kidkoala.com www.wil-mar.org/lafete

BALL CENTRAL
This year’s Central Park Sessions which conveniently take place in Madison’s Central Park located at 202 S. Ingersoll Street start up in late July and continue into early Sept. The kick off for these themed concerts on July 28 is the Honky Tonk Session. It features Austin’s Grammy nominated, groove-grinding, multi award winner Marcia Ball. She will be playing selections from her newest release, The Tattooed Lady and the Alligator Man. Expect her full tilt roadhouse rhythm and blues party to knock your socks off. And this is just the beginning session! Warming up for her will be Nikki Hill and the Beth Kille Band. gwaba.org/central-park-sessions-2016.html

MICRO REVIEWS: This Month's Rating Scale is from 1 is Defeasible thru 10 is Evincive

Destined to be the soundtrack of my summer, this landmark 19 track musical journey wrangles numerous genres and approaches to produce a stunning selection of anthems, ballads, raps, and invocations, that are highlighted with deep emotions, intense trauma, extreme sensitivity, Native American chants, and “radical” heartfelt ideals that Nahko and crew have forged into one of the strongest releases in recent memory. By adding trumpet and violin to the lineup, MFTP have jumped to a new level of attainability and tonal dynamics.